KARACHI, July 29: The city nazim, Naimatullah Khan, has identified eradication of beggary besides containing the fast growing incidence of drug addiction from the city among his top priorities in the agenda for Karachi's development schemes.

He was speaking at the inaugural session of a planning meeting between City District Government Karachi (CDGK) and Unicef held on Thursday as part of the government of Pakistan and Unicef's country programme action plan for 2004-05.

The city nazim appreciative of Unicef's support in his ambitious plan to ensure quality and healthy existence of Karachiites also cited provision for round-the-clock availability of well-trained midwives at all maternity hospitals, strong and effective vaccination programmes, elimination of preventable diseases, provision of potable water and quality education for children as part of his very efforts.

He mentioned that it was owing to the support of Unicef and other international bodies that the Sindh government and local bodies functioning across the province were about to achieve the goal of polio eradication, while the TB Dots programme was also being strengthened.

Reminding that resources generally appeared to be meagre in the face of the intensity of problems experienced in Karachi, Naimat maintained that government departments and various donors needed to realize that each and every successful public welfare scheme in Karachi had its impact on the country.

He mentioned that no less than 52 per cent of city's inhabitants were living in 538 slums scattered across the metropolis, and were largely denied basic facilities. It was claimed that considerable emphasis was being laid on education, and primary schooling was declared absolutely free.

For girls, he said no fees of any sort was being charged till class eight, while a stipend of Rs100 was also being offered to them with a view to encourage and motivate local parents to send their daughters to school.

Naimat mentioned that computers labs were also being established at all secondary schools run by the city government. The coordinator for Unicef, Sindh, Rana Syed, on the occasion mentioned that his organization had earmarked significant funds for its various projects in Pakistan for 2004, and was particularly focussing on female education, integrated early childhood development, immunization plus, fight against HIV/ AIDS and protecting children from violence, exploitation, abuse and discrimination.

Referring to the national scope of the government of Pakistan and Unicef supported country programme action plan (2004-2008), she said it aimed at improving survival, development, protection and participation of children in Pakistan.

The strategies evolved to attain the very goals were said to include disparity reduction, participation and partnerships, support to devolution and decentralization, capacity development, and result based focus on selected areas.

Among the Unicef achievements, she mentioned 111 per cent polio coverage for Sindh and 97 per cent of the same in Karachi from Jan to June this year in close coordination among provincial and city district governments with Unicef.

She also maintained that 79 per cent immunization coverage for DPT3 was reported in Sindh and 90 to 93 per cent in towns of Karachi during the first six months in 2004. The assessment was said to be based on third party evaluation.

According to her, concerted efforts were also under way to increase routine immunisation coverage, for which capacity building of all LHWs/SLHW had been envisaged to provide immunization plus services in target areas.

With particular reference to Karachi, she mentioned child protection projects in two towns followed by immunisation programme in five towns, maternal health, child survival and development in two towns besides water and environmental sanitation in two towns.

Rana Syed also mentioned measures adopted by Unicef in collaboration with local NGOs and city government to improve conditions of water and sanitation in Karachi with emphasis on improved hygiene, provision of water and sanitation facilities at both household and community levels.

Meanwhile, enumerating outputs for 2004 with regard to child protection, it was stated that the main focus was on improved understanding of key child protection issues, systems and mechanisms for identification, recovery and reintegration of children in need of special protection, prevention of physical punishment through education department and NGOs working in the very field.

Provincial and district level support for improved legislation, policies and standards were also said to be some of the objectives for 2004 with major concentration on issues related to abuse, violence and exploitation of children without families and those in jails.

Regarding the outputs for maternal and child health, the Unicef coordinator mentioned steps taken to increase women access to ante- natal care, training programmes to improve skills of birth attendants besides provision of emergency obstetric care services.

Elaborating the same, Rana Syed referred to measures adopted for supporting midwifery capacity development for local girls and women; communication with families through LHWs, health committees and others besides strengthening EMOC in target areas.

She also referred to child survival and development projects with major emphasis on promotion of breast feeding, complementary feeding for children and psycho-social stimulation.

Reduction in prevalence of diarrhoea, acute respiratory infection, malaria and increased home treatment of diarrhoeal diseases was said to be some of the endeavours. Under the very efforts, 25 districts across Pakistan were said to had strengthened routine EPI while another 20 districts had efficiently worked on girls primary education. The event was also attended by senior health care professionals, DCO Mir Hussain Ali EDO (Health) and other government officials. - APP